CHAPTER SIXTY NINE
Daniel and Natalie glanced up when they saw Amy emerge from behind the double doors and velvet ropes where the entrance examinations were being conducted. Getting to their feet, they smiled and waved as Amy caught sight of them too, flashing a quick smile as she consulted the attendant to one side. He shook her hand without enthusiasm, returned her Trainer Card and called, "Next!"
"How did it go?" Daniel blurted the first thing on his mind.
Heart hammering, Amy replied, "I passed."
Amid cries and cheers, Natalie rushed forward to hug Amy, who turned to Daniel and smiled faintly in place of physical contact. Amy had had enough of immature boys for one day, even if Daniel meant no harm.
"Come and hang out with us!" Natalie implored, dragging her along as Daniel ran to catch up. "Tell us all about it."
"Let's take a seat outside," Amy said, heading towards the Pokemon Centre counter. "I'll meet you there."
As she waited in the queue, Amy thought over the battle that had concluded and how fearful she had been that she would lose. No matter what, she was in it to win it. Though the prize money would be a nice addition, more than anything Amy wanted to succeed just for the satisfaction of achieving her long-held goal. Her Pokemon had done excellent so far.
"Welcome!" the nurse beckoned her forth, adjusting her white cap while Chansey beside her looked tired. "I'm sorry for the slow service. Would you like to heal your Pokemon?"
Amy handed her Pokeballs over and waited patiently as the nurse handed them back, good as new. Efficient though exhausted, the nurse replied, "Please come again!"
Heading outside, Amy released her Pokemon from their Pokeballs. Arcanine stood tall and strong, Nidorina pawed at the grass to find a place to sit and Marowak ambled about, knocking his bone club upon the ground in a consistent tempo that sounded like a battle warning.
"Over here, guys," Amy beckoned to her Pokemon, sitting upon the grass beside Daniel and Natalie, whose Pokemon were also out of their Pokeballs. All of them sized each other up. "Have you two not had your entrance exams yet?"
Both of them shook their head. Daniel patted Weepinbell while Amy arched her neck back as Seadra twisted around in her arms, pointy fins poking high.
"We were given pagers to inform us as to the time," Daniel said, staring at Amy. Discomfited, Amy glanced towards a group of hardcore male Trainers, all discussing their idol Bruno and glancing away when she caught their eye.
Does all the adrenaline from battling foster their hormones? Amy asked herself. It's rude to stare.
Amy told Daniel and Natalie of her trek through Victory Road, of the ascent atop the summit and the Pokemon she had encountered there. Swapping amazed glances, Daniel was eager to hear more though Natalie sounded impressed from the beginning.
"Now you believe me about Articuno!" Natalie smiled in triumph.
"Moltres?" Daniel asked. "That's incredible. It didn't attack you?"
Amy continued with her tale, adding how hard accommodation had been to come by in the village now that so many Trainers were booking in to take their entrance examinations. She did not mention meeting punk Zane or the cafeteria brawl that had led to her victory over the brute, Steve.
"How about you two?" Amy asked, again marvelling at how they remained friends despite travelling to such ends through Kanto. Boys gained intimacy through little more than proximity, while girls remained the advanced species. "Tell me about the Saffron and Viridian Gyms."
Recounting his Gym battle with Sabrina and Giovanni with more gusto and length than Natalie, Daniel trailed on for longer than necessary while Amy patted Arcanine and Natalie unwrapped a chocolate bar from her backpack, munching it quietly as Seadra snapped a sneaky bite or two.
Foregoing accommodation, Daniel and Natalie had been forced to use the showers in the gym of the stadium complex, where athletic enthusiasts who pushed their stamina swam laps to build their adrenaline while waiting for their entrance examinations to be called. Exhausted but clean, Daniel glanced up at the sky while Arbok glared at passing children.
"You have nowhere to stay?" Amy repeated, as Daniel nodded. She retrieved her room key for the inn out of her purse, handing it to Natalie.
"What's this?" Daniel sat up on his elbows.
"I've booked it for another night. You two can share a room," Amy replied, hoping she wasn't being indelicate. "It's only one bed, so you might need to bunk on the couch, Daniel."
Giggling, Natalie took the room key as Daniel couldn't work out if it was an insult or not. He would've given Natalie first choice, anyway.
"Where will you stay, then?" Daniel asked.
"Now that I'm registered as a contender in the tournament, I've been assigned a suite during my stay, free of charge," Amy added, getting to her feet. "I should check it out. I need to buy some supplies at the PokeMart counter, too."
"I'll come with you!" Natalie sprang to her feet, bidding her Pokemon follow. "Daniel, I'll see you later."
Amy nodded in wordless goodbye as she listened to Natalie's further inquiries of her battle with Lorelei. Daniel rested his head on the grass and tried to concentrate, sifting through battle tactics but also his dissent that Natalie was becoming friendlier with Amy.
It only makes sense, Daniel took himself. Duh. They're girls. All girls are friends with each other, to some extent.
Daniel's only instances of female unpleasantness came from Beth, whom he paid no heed. Having stuck to Pokemon academia and the upkeep of his Meowth, Daniel had seen little of Kanto beyond Pallet Town before he started his Pokemon journey. Both Natalie and Amy confused him to no end, when their topics of interest differed from his, especially beyond Pokemon. What else was there but Pokemon?
Shielding his eyes from the sun, Daniel watched the milling Trainers swap stories, compare Pokemon and talk with their parents, some of whom had arrived early to congratulate their sons or daughters on their entrance examinations. Consulting the brochure tucked safely in his pocket, Daniel read about how sixty-four Trainers would be randomly paired with each other to battle, ascending as they won and disqualified in the face of defeat.
Daniel refolded the pamphlet and thought hard about his chances of winning. He had a somewhat balanced party, with Normal-type Meowth, Grass/Poison-type Weepinbell, Poison-type Arbok and Water-type Seel. Shadow covered his sunlight as a familiar face sneered down at him.
"What are you doing here?" Joshua asked. His styled hair glistened gel in the sunlight, while he wore a silver chain necklace and dark jeans. "I thought you'd have lost the Badge challenge by now."
Getting to his feet, Daniel began to redden. Joshua had been his only rival for academic success at the Pokemon Trainer's School in Viridian City. Arbok hissed and glared at Joshua, hostile.
"I won all eight Gym Badges, thank you very much," Daniel flipped open his Badge case and displayed the Trainer Card around his neck. To his dismay, Daniel realised Joshua wore a lanyard around his neck, too. "I don't need to ask if you're here for the tournament."
Smirking, Joshua affected a superior tone as he brushed lint off his black turtle neck, making him look skinnier but perspire faster in this heat. Daniel caught the sight of four Pokeballs at Joshua's belt.
"I've already passed my entrance exam. Easy as pie, if you ask me."
Daniel blurted out, "Who did you battle?"
"That old crone, Agatha," Joshua added. "She's been battling for a long while, but her time's about up."
"Are you always so nasty?" Daniel shot back. "Can't you say something nice for once?"
Exhaling, Joshua spat, "Not all of us want to be goody-good like you. Have you and Natalie hooked up yet?"
Bracing from the colloquial invective, Daniel reddened further. "Of course not!"
Darkening, Joshua replied, "I thought so. You don't have it in you. For all your attention to Pokemon, you better not lose before I battle you."
"I'll win," Daniel retorted, raising his voice. "Me and my Pokemon will crush you!"
Glancing askance, Joshua watched as Weepinbell happily jumped into a raked pile of leaves, while Meowth chased his own tail and Seel clapped happily at nothing in particular.
"Yeah, sure," Joshua sneered. "With the weight of all your love."
Walking off, Daniel felt a pit of resentment and fury building in his stomach. Why did Joshua always have to act like he was above everyone else? Daniel had wanted to settle the score ever since he had lost a battle to Joshua in Mt. Moon.
There are good Trainers and bad Trainers, Daniel told himself. But bad Trainers train their Pokemon with avid fascination and force. The tournament will be decided by strong Pokemon, not who loves their Pokemon more.
"Ah!" Daniel started in surprise, retrieving the vibrating pager from within his pocket. The display read that his entrance examination was due to start in ten minutes. "Come on, Pokemon, return!"
Bright flashes of red light shot out as Daniel returned each of his Pokemon in turn, not wanting them to get lost amid the crowds with such an important upcoming battle. He raced inside the stadium complex, skidding on the tiles as he reached the PokeMart counter. Amy and Natalie were nowhere to be seen.
"Welcome!" smiled the attendant, as receptive as if she received commission on every sale. "How may I help you today?"
Daniel bought some Full Heals and Revives, rushing to the Pokemon Centre counter to compulsively heal his Pokemon. After waiting too long in the queue, he snatched back his healed Pokeballs in a mad rush, knocking into two older gentlemen who grumbled and cursed at his interruption to their conversation.
"Sorry!" Daniel panted, rushing for the examination battlefield. The familiar attendant had been replaced by a substitute, the row of plastic chairs atop which Trainers sat and compared strategy while a Trainer emerged from behind the red velvet cordon, beaming in victory.
"Next!" called the attendant, refreshed where her prior lackey had been unwilling. "Daniel S!"
Sweating buckets, Daniel raised his hand. "That's me!"
Sternly, the attendant glanced down at him from her clipboard. "You did read the rules, right?"
Beaming, Daniel realised this must be part of the test. "Of course! Amended for this tournament, the pamphlet covers -"
"You may only take three Pokemon with you into the entrance examination," the woman interrupted, rapping her pen against the clipboard impatiently. "You have four!"
Thudding in sudden realisation, Daniel had forgotten to switch out one of his Pokeballs in the encounter with Joshua that had rattled him so.
You're letting him get to you! Daniel cursed himself. Focus on the upcoming battle!
"I'll switch out Weepinbell," Daniel said, handing the attendant his Pokeball for safe keeping. "Sorry about that."
"Good luck," she added, lifting the velvet rope so Daniel could proceed. He pushed open the double doors and walked out onto the battlefield.
It was plain and tiled, with empty seats around the sidelines and shielded from the view of onlookers. Daniel's footsteps were the only sound as he approached one side of the battlefield, watching as the double doors opened opposite. He squinted to see the swaggering bulk of an elderly lady, grey hair curling down her frame and clutching a cane.
"Welcome, boy. My name is Agatha," she snapped, looking as though this fight might just finish her off. She was exhausted. "We only allow three Pokemon in these exams, so you better be prepared."
Agatha! Daniel's memory clicked on. If Joshua can beat her, then so can I!
Startled, Daniel nodded. "Yes, I have three Pokemon. My name is Daniel. I've read about you -"
"Hah!" Agatha barked. "Then you'll know how powerful my Pokemon are. Primarily, I use Ghost-type Pokemon. Are you scared of the dark, boy?"
"No," Daniel stammering, gasping as the floodlights flashed on and off, while Agatha stood motionless. "What's going on?"
Around the battlefield, torches jabbed out of the ground, fiery black and purple as the only source of illumination. Spooked, Daniel watched as gravestones emerged from underneath the ground, spread out around the battlefield in no particular pattern. Agatha's wizened face grew more haunted as the torches flickered.
Cackling madly, Agatha cried, "You better have done your homework, boy! I take no prisoners!"
"I'm pretty strong! Don't underestimate me, yet!" Daniel cried, throwing his first Pokeball into the field. "Go, Arbok!"
Slithering forth, Arbok slammed its tail upon the field in a show of aggression. The eerie flames only heightened the intimidating pattern upon Arbok's chest. From within the folds of her dress, Agatha threw her first Pokeball into the field.
"Show 'em what we've got, Haunter!"
The evolved form of Gastly, Haunter floated above the field in a purplish haze, separate head and arms but working as one. Haunter looked satisfied with Arbok as prey.
"Arbok, Glare!" Daniel cried.
"Haunter, Lick!" Agatha declared.
Haunter closed its eyes as it floated towards Arbok, whose Glare was ineffective as Haunter swooped upon Arbok and licked it on the face. Shuddering with minor pain, Arbok became paralysed.
"What?" Daniel shouted, reaching for a Full Heal.
Cackling, Agatha cried, "Hypnosis, Haunter!"
Haunter emitted a hypnotic wave which sent Arbok to sleep, slumbering while paralysed. Daniel fetched his Full Heal, but Haunter used Dream Eater, hovering over Arbok and absorbing its life force. Daniel hurriedly administered the Full Heal, rousing Arbok who was quite injured.
"Haunter, Confuse Ray!" Agatha cried.
Thinking fast, Daniel cried, "Arbok, Dig!"
Leaping into the air and burrowing deep underground, Arbok evaded the eerie wave shot forth by Haunter. Hovering above the battlefield, Haunter smirked as he flitted between the gravestones -
Arbok burst out of the ground and tackled into Haunter, delivering sharp damage which sent Haunter reeling, floating away to gain space. Arbok coiled upon the ground, dirt upon its serpentine frame.
"Haunter, Confuse Ray!"
"Arbok, use Glare!"
Haunter emitted an eerie wave from its hands as Arbok glared with malice at Haunter. Arbok writhed about in confusion, while Haunter levitated in place, paralysed. Agatha reached for a Full Heal.
"Arbok, Dig!" Daniel cried.
Thankfully, Arbok burrowed underground and Daniel did not have to resort to using his Full Heal. Haunter was a sideshow attraction, fixed smirk in place as he remained still as Agatha's Full Heal took effect -
But Arbok leapt out at the wrong place, far away from where Haunter was.
"No!" Daniel cried, as Arbok bit itself in confusion. "Arbok, return!"
Red light flashing out, Daniel selected his second Pokeball, hoping Arbok would be OK. Agatha cackled madly.
"Not so sure now, are you, boy?"
Daniel threw the Pokeball into the field, bursting with bright light. "Go, Seel!"
Seel waddled forward, blanching at the fearsome visage of Haunter.
"Haunter, Hypnosis!"
"Seel, Ice Beam!"
Haunter released an eerie wave with his palms, while Seel jumped out of the way, releasing a frigid beam of ice which struck Haunter in the face. Stumbling about, Haunter bobbed up and down in pain, shivering.
"Water Gun, Seel!" Daniel shouted.
Agatha was mad. "Haunter, Lick!"
Haunter swooped forward, licking Seel with minor damage. Seel shot a burst of water from its mouth at Haunter, who buckled and could barely levitate from its injuries.
"Haunter, come over here!" Agatha called, retrieving a Full Restore from her dress.
"Oh no, you don't!" Daniel cried. "Seel, Ice Beam!"
Charging another beam of ice, Seel directed it at Haunter's back, covering the Ghost/Poison-type with ice so that he fell unconscious, frozen solid.
"Ach! Return, Haunter!" Agatha held out her Pokeball, red light returning Haunter inside.
"Great job, Seel!" Daniel cheered for his Pokemon. "We took out that Haunter no sweat!"
"Boy, your generation is too cocky for your own good," Agatha chose her second of three Pokeballs, arrogantly tossing it into the field. "Fly forth, Golbat!"
The evolved form of Zubat, Golbat was larger and more bloodthirsty as it bared its fangs at Seel.
"We've got this, Seel!" Daniel shouted. "Ice Beam!"
"Golbat, Haze!" Agatha commanded.
Seel shot an icy beam towards Golbat, who erupted black smoke from its mouth and hid the battlefield from view. Unharmed, Golbat swooped out of the thick smoke, wings glowing as it tackled Seel across the field with a savage Wing Attack.
"Seel!" Daniel cried, surprised at Golbat's speed. Agatha's Poison/Flying-type Pokemon soared a lap around the battlefield, gnashing its fangs.
"Golbat, Leech Life!" Agatha shouted.
"Seel, Take Down!" Daniel yelled.
The thick, black haze continued to swirl about the deserted graveyard that was the battlefield. Seel tensed as Golbat flew close, leaping without fruition as Golbat sank its teeth into Seel, drawing blood as it sucked energy, healed.
"Your puny Seel can't escape my Golbat!" Agatha cackled.
Quite injured, Seel continued to fight as Golbat swooped into the air, headed in a return loop straight for Seel.
"Ice Beam!" Daniel shouted, veins pulsing in his face. "Get him, Seel!"
"Golbat, Supersonic!" Agatha shouted.
Golbat released a supersonic wave directed at Seel, blasted backwards by Seel's beam of ice. Staggering in pain, Golbat barely managed to stay upright as Seel succumbed to confusion, whacking itself around the face with its paws and chasing its tail with a sharp Bite.
"Return!" Daniel screeched, aware he had to stop this madness. He was losing it. Golbat soared above, still fit for battle as Daniel chose one of two Pokeballs remaining. "Go, Meowth!"
Springing forward, Meowth glanced up at the predator, Golbat. Claws drawn, Meowth taunted the flying bat Pokemon and received an unearthly screech in reply.
"Golbat, Toxic!" Agatha shouted.
"Meowth, Pay Day!" Daniel cried.
Golbat shot purple poison from its mouth towards Meowth, as Meowth's forehead glowed and blasted Golbat out of the air, golden coins scattered about the graveyard. Badly poisoned, Meowth glanced askance at its discoloured fur while Golbat flapped madly to remain airborne.
"Golbat, Leech Life!" Agatha screeched.
"Meowth, Swift!" Daniel shouted, hoping Meowth would be alright.
Nodding, Meowth flung shining stars at Golbat which curved to meet its foe. Golbat soared towards Meowth, knocked backwards by the incoming Swift, now greatly harmed. Reaching for a Full Restore, Agatha beckoned Golbat over with her finger.
"Meowth, don't let that Golbat escape!" Daniel noticed how bleak Meowth's features were. "Slash!"
Meowth sprinted after Golbat, who flew close to Agatha at once. Golbat turned in horror to see Meowth pouncing with its claws drawn, slashing wildly at the bat Pokemon. Falling hard, Golbat panted as Meowth returned to Daniel's side of the field.
"Great work, Meowth!" Daniel congratulated. "Use Rest!"
Curling up asleep, Meowth was healed of harm and poison, snoring softly. Close to fainting, Golbat was returned inside Agatha's Pokeball.
"Not bad, kid. Not bad at all," Agatha said, fetching her third and final Pokeball and tossing it into the battlefield. "But my Gengar will show you the error of your ways!"
Gengar leapt forth from the Pokeball, the evolved form of Haunter. It had a humanoid appearance, purple body and cheeky smirk upon its features.
"Gengar, Dream Eater!" Agatha commanded.
"Oh, no!" Daniel reached for his Full Heal, but it was too late. Gengar leapt upon Meowth, absorbing its life energy and dealing great damage. "Meowth? Are you OK?"
Rousing, Meowth leapt back with a snarl as it caught sight of Gengar's feral features.
"Meowth, Swift!" Daniel shouted.
"Gengar, Psychic!" Agatha cackled.
Meowth tossed golden stars which passed through Gengar's transparent body. Gengar released a psychic blast which knocked Meowth into a gravestone, where it crumbled and Meowth lay faint.
"Return!" Daniel screeched, returning Meowth inside his Pokeball. Breathing heavily, he remembered that Normal-type moves were completely ineffective against Ghost-type Pokemon, but he thought Swift might have done the trick.
"Pack your bags, boy!" Agatha cackled with laughter. "You're almost finished!"
"I won't go down without a fight! This is the most important battle of my Pokemon career!" Daniel threw his third and final Pokeball into the battlefield. "Go, Arbok!"
Uncoiling itself, Arbok hissed at Gengar who poked out his tongue at Daniel's serpent Pokemon.
"You've picked a bad time to use a Poison-type Pokemon!" Agatha shouted. "Gengar, Psychic!"
"Arbok, Dig!" Daniel shouted.
Burrowing underground, Arbok avoided the psychic blast sent forth by Gengar. There was silence but for the rumbling underneath the graveyard, while Gengar looked about, curious.
"Now, Arbok!" Daniel shouted, as Arbok shot out from a grave.
Gengar leapt out of the way to avoid Arbok, shooting a dark beam from its curled hands which blasted Arbok painfully into a gravestone.
"That's my Gengar's Night Shade!" Agatha cackled. "Finish Arbok off! Psychic!"
"Arbok," Daniel cried in desperation. "Earthquake!"
Arbok leapt into the air, evading the psychic blast which Gengar sent forth, crumbling the gravestone to pieces. Crashing upon the ground, Arbok hissed magnificently as a fissure snaked through the battlefield, striking out at Gengar who toppled and fell.
"Perfect!" Daniel cried. "Glare!"
Scrambling for stature, Gengar made eye contact with Arbok and became still. Cursing loudly, Agatha banged her cane upon the ground and fetched her Full Restore.
"Dig, Arbok! Dig!"
Burrowing underground, Agatha began to administer the Full Heal just as Arbok leapt out from underneath, tackling Gengar and sending him flying. Collapsing atop a gravestone, Gengar gave a final sigh and moved no more. Arbok landed nearby, slithering in front of Daniel and baring the pattern upon its chest for all to see.
"We did it!" Daniel erupted with mad laughter, rushing forward to embrace Arbok and tripping over his shoelaces. Reddening, he picked himself up and hugged the serpent Pokemon, whose powerful grip still intimidated him somewhat. "You were excellent, Arbok, really good job!"
Still tingling from the graveyard, Daniel glanced up as Agatha made her way through the battlefield, returning Gengar to its Pokeball as she did so. Cane tapping on gravestones to ensure she had the right of passage, Agatha glanced at Daniel and his Arbok.
"Humph. I still don't know about you, boy. You may care deeply for your Pokemon, but you lack the self-discipline to go further."
"Further?" Daniel burst into peals of laughter. "What could be further than the Indigo League?"
Murmuring, Agatha continued, "Congrats, boy. You have passed your entrance examination."
Whooping, Daniel wished Weepinbell could be here to celebrate, but forced himself to thank Agatha first.
"Don't thank me, boy!" Agatha waved him away. "There's plenty of Trainers who still need a good beating!"